Dental implants have revolutionized the dental healthcare industry, giving dentists a reliable and effective tooth loss solution. In the past, teeth replacement was a hectic process that didn’t guarantee the best results. Dentists relied on dentures and crowns, which could fall off very easily. With modern dental implants, patients can now replace their missing teeth permanently and continue living life normally. These implants are carefully designed to fit in the jaw snugly. They are permanently attached to the jaw using metal screws that offer support to the jaw and the overall dental structure.
Therefore, you can chew, bite, and perform a variety of other important tasks with your mouth without worrying about your implants. If they are properly installed, dental implants feel and function exactly like the natural teeth. So, if the gaps in your mouth are embarrassing you, you can quickly improve your self-esteem by filling them up with dental implants. As dentists continue to explore new ways of enhancing these implants, new advances have emerged.
One of the significant advances in dental implants is the emergence of more reliable and safer materials for the implants. The quality of implant materials has also improved significantly, making this restorative dental treatment procedure very promising. The ongoing research on dental implants focuses on finding tooth-colored dental implant materials that will enhance the implants’ color and are incredibly biocompatible. Researchers also want implant materials that can resist pressures caused by the oral cavity. Here are some of the latest dental implant materials.
Titanium Dental Implants
Titanium is a popular implant material with its success being attributed to its exceptional biocompatibility, which results from the creation of a stable oxide coating on its exterior surface. This material is also known to have high passivity, measured thickness, self-repair abilities, resistance to chemicals, catalytic activity, and great elasticity that is compatible with the bone. In fact, it is one of the few metals that bond very well with the bone. That’s why it is considered to be the right option for intraosseous use.
Zirconia Dental Implants
Zirconia was discovered in the early 90s and was mainly used for prosthetic procedures with endosseous transplants. This material is a better option than titanium because it is resistant to plaque buildup. Therefore, it is good for preventing soft tissue recession. Another benefit of zirconia is that it has better mechanical attributes, including improved elongation and fatigue resistance.
